The city of Pismo Beach spreads out from the long pleasure pier and along the wide beach. It became famous for the large and abundant Pismo clams. There is a giant concrete clam statue, and an annual clam festival, but the clams were over-harvested and are now now much harder to find.

There is also a local tradition of driving on the beach. Though no longer allowed on Pismo Beach proper it is still a major recreational activity at Oceano just to the south.